credit Nat Traxel
Luminous singer-songwriter Ava Joe joined the Toast roster, alongside the release of her anthemic new single ‘Black Summer Babe’ – released via AWAL/Au Contraire Recordings (Oscar Jerome, Ted Jasper/Berlioz). Capturing the nocturnal pulse of London’s jazz clubs, her voice is time-defying and rich with a kind of soulfulness that belies her youth.
‘Black Summer Babe’ sees Ava reflect on a sadness unique to summer, when the days feel endless while
she writes of “swimming in my loneliness”. But it’s there, leaning into those feelings, where the magic
begins. Listen to Black Summer Babe HERE. Watch the accompanying visualiser below.
Speaking on the track, Ava Joe shares: “‘Black Summer Babe’ is a song I wrote on a rainy day in the
summer while I was on a recording trip in the Cotswolds with Ewan from Bad Sounds.The rain made me
feel melancholic and nostalgic looking back on better summers. I couldn’t ignore the feeling of longing so it only made sense to romanticise this emotion and write about it.”
The latest track follows the release of Ava’s first two singles – Black Smoke in November of last year and
Polly Pocket this January. Taking inspiration from idols like Amy Winehouse, Lana Del Rey and Adele,
Ava uses themes of power, heartbreak, love and lust to fuel her writing and produce her signature soulful,
dream-like sound.
From the early-aged gifting of a karaoke machine at Christmas which saw her discover artists like Lady
Gaga and Lily Allen, the young singer has always been drawn to confessional storytelling, a gift which
she’s been developing since her early teens through music. Coming up through the London gig circuit and performing at venues including Ram Jam Records and Mascara Bar in Dalston, Ava recently performed her first ever headline show in London at a sold-out Paper Dress Vintage. This latest release marks Ava Joe’s arrival with much more to come.
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